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The Westbury
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© Stuart Holt
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By Ben McFarland
Where is it? On Kilburn High Road, hailed by many as the ‘new’ Hoxton. Obviously it isn’t, in any way, shape or form, but let’s try and go somewhere with this shall we?
The Westbury is an enormous, old, open-plan edifice defibrillated with a jolt of post-modern pub and clubbery. You know the drill: shabby sofas and chic chandeliers, flock wallpaper and funky ferns, mirrors in their multitude and taxidermy which someone, somewhere, has decided is trendy ’n’ that. Annexed to the main bar area is ‘The Priory’, a private room available for hire.
If the bar's busy, we recommend sidestepping the cocktail list, which showcases alternative Martinis and some clichéd classics, and stick to the compact wine list or the monotonous mainstream beers instead. The food isn't recommended unless you like big, bombastic burgers. There are ten to choose from, including jerk chicken and salmon fillet. Sunday roasts too.
Entertainment comes in the form of regulation ‘um-tsssh, um-tsssh’ from the DJs and there’s plenty of eight-ball action about. Regulars include a pool posturing, shape-throwing young crowd which gets a bit rowdy on the weekends.Time Out London Issue 2008: February 12-18 2009
Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
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Details
- 34 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 5UA
- Area: Kilburn
- Tel: 020 7625 7500
- Category: Bars & Pubs
- Travel: Kilburn Park tube/Kilburn High Road rail
- Times: Open 12noon-12midnight Mon-Wed, Sun; 12noon-1am Thur; 12noon-3am Fri, Sat
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I live near the Westbury and this is about one of the best locals I have ever had. It's quite multi faceted, it can be relaxing on a Tuesday evening and throbbing on a Saturday night. The music on the weekends is great, with a new night called Juicebox just introduced, you get to dance to all the top numbers. I would recommend it as it is quite unpretentious and prices are not bad too!
The decor is pretty cool and the music featured is actually pretty varied - it tends to cater for mid-20s upwards i.e. music that was trendy a few years back (UK hip-hop, breaks, DnB) rather than loads of electro, nu rave etc - I love that I have that choice.
The biggest downside for me is that they pack the place out waaaay to much on music nights. There's hardly space to move, let alone dance. There's also a pub quiz now, although I haven't tried it out yet.
Went to The Westbury on a Saturday night where they had Tape the Top 40, with a countdown from 1986. DJ dressed as Tom Cruise Top Gun era, prizes were Twister and Top Gun dvd. It was THE best and most random night out I've had in ages. Very mixed crowd which got slightly dodgy towards 2am, but atmosphere was great and overall friendly. Brilliant pub considering the area is such a dive.
I went to The Westbury on Sunday night having just moved to the area, and i must say i was very impressed. Having lived in Acton and Shepards Bush none of the local pubs there are a patch on this place. Funky decor, wicked tunes, laid back atmosphere, Kilburn is definatly up and comming and thanks to the Westbury a great local night out.
Ha Ha! Great review!! So you would not recommend it then? Love the 8 ball comment, why do these places even exist?!
As a young professional living in the area i have to say i find that review a little scathing. Ive been a regular at The Westbury since i moved to London in June last year and it has not let me down since.
Granted the area is not the most hip of places, but it presents a nice break from the standard shoreditch/central london affair and its nice to be able to go see great DJ's and have a excellent night out in the NW area.
Whilst there cocktail list is perhaps not as extensive as other places they are very well made. And yes whilst it can take a while to get served on a busy night i find very few bars where this is not the case.
The food is a little one dimensional but the salmon or chicken burger which you mentioned i would hardly describe as "big and bombastic" and the roasts are good too.
and regulation um-tsssh? albeit i am into this "um-tssssh" music but they have a great variety with some big names at a very low cover charge.
The Westbury is not without its flaws, but show me somewhere which is flawless or comes close to The Westbury in the area and ill check it out.....